Immune status with empyema thoracis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the humoral and cell mediated immune status of children with empyema thoracis. METHODS: Serum IgG, IgA, IgM, Complement C3 assay and cell mediated immunity (CMI) tests were performed in 33 patients of empyema thoracis, and 14 healthy age matched controls. RESULTS: The mean serum IgG and IgA levels in empyema thoracis and its subgroups were significantly raised as compared to controls. The overall values of IgG and IgA were 104% (p<0.001) and 114% (p<0.01) of normal mean, respectively. The mean serum IgM and complement C3 levels did not differ significantly in both the groups. The frequency of negative skin reaction to purified protein derivative (PPD) was significantly higher in children with empyema thoracis as compared to controls (p<0.05). The mean absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) was significantly decreased and serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was significantly raised in empyema thoracis in comparison to controls. The overall ALC was 76.1% (p<0.01) and serum ADA activity was 169.4% (p<0.001) of normal mean, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the mean levels of immunoglobulins, complement C3 and CMI tests between pyothorax and pyopneumothorax and pleural fluid culture positive and negative cases. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, both humoral and cell mediated immunity were affected in empyema thoracis patients. However, CMI demonstrated more pronounced change in comparison to humoral immunity.

Effect of corticosteroids on carbohydrate metabolism in Bufo melanostictus (Schneider).

A single injection of corticosterone (1 or 5 micrograms/50 g body weight) produced a significant elevation in plasma glucose, liver and muscle glycogen contents of B. melanostictus. Single but identical doses of aldosterone had no effect on plasma glucose concentration. Liver and muscle glycogen contents were however significantly augmented. Administration of 1 or 5 micrograms corticosterone and 1 microgram or 200 ng aldosterone/50 g body weight, for 15 days, caused no change in plasma glucose concentration. In all the groups receiving corticosterone or aldosterone for 15 days, liver and muscle glycogen contents significantly increased. The magnitude of increase in liver and muscle glycogen by aldosterone was marginally greater than that by corticosterone. The results suggest that both the corticosteroids may be gluconeogenic in B. melanostictus.

Iopanoic acid prevents spring premigratory increase in body weight of redheaded bunting Emberiza bruniceps.

Effects of long term administration of iopanoic acid (IOP), a potent inhibitor of peripheral conversion of thyroxine (T4) into triiodothyronine (T3), on body weight and gonad development in intact and in thyroidectomized (Thx) redheaded bunting that received replacement therapy with T4 were studied. IOP prevented the premigratory increase in body weight observed in intact bunting (during March/April). In contrast to the Thx birds receiving T4 only, IOP administration in combination with T4 caused a significant decrease in body weight of Thx birds. The gonad development in intact and Thx birds that received IOP was significantly inhibited. Results suggest that IOP through an effective inhibition of peripheral T4-monodeiodination may prevent the spring premigratory fattening. Emphasis is given for an important role of T3 in the physiological preparations associated with migration.